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Drop Trooper #7
Shock Action
Cam is a Marine, not a spy.
That’s what he keeps trying to tell Fleet Intelligence, but when he and Vicky signed back up, they agreed to follow orders. And their orders are to keep working for the Corporate Security Force and find out what the private paramilitary force knows about Zan-Thint and his plans to use Predecessor technology against the Commonwealth.
The trouble is, the CSF doesn’t seem to care about Zan-Thint anymore. They send Cam and Vicky and a crew of mercenary Drop Troopers to an isolated mining world called Portent. Their job? To put down a rebellion by wildcat miners who don’t want the Corporate Council stealing the fruits of their labor. Somehow, they’ve been able to hire the baddest mercenaries in the Commonwealth to hold onto their planet.
Stuck leading a crew of cutthroat mercenaries who want nothing more than to slaughter the wildcat miners and take their rhenium ore, facing down an even more cutthroat band of mercenaries who’ll kill anyone they consider a threat, Cam and Vicky try to negotiate a course between the two and figure out who’s actually paying the mercenaries and why the Corporate Council is really interested in a backwoods rhenium mine.
Because nothing on Portent is as it seems…and their allies might be just as ready to kill them as their enemies.
Book 7 in the Amazon Bestselling Drop Trooper series by Rick Partlow is here. It's Military Sci-Fi the way it's supposed to be!
That’s what he keeps trying to tell Fleet Intelligence, but when he and Vicky signed back up, they agreed to follow orders. And their orders are to keep working for the Corporate Security Force and find out what the private paramilitary force knows about Zan-Thint and his plans to use Predecessor technology against the Commonwealth.
The trouble is, the CSF doesn’t seem to care about Zan-Thint anymore. They send Cam and Vicky and a crew of mercenary Drop Troopers to an isolated mining world called Portent. Their job? To put down a rebellion by wildcat miners who don’t want the Corporate Council stealing the fruits of their labor. Somehow, they’ve been able to hire the baddest mercenaries in the Commonwealth to hold onto their planet.
Stuck leading a crew of cutthroat mercenaries who want nothing more than to slaughter the wildcat miners and take their rhenium ore, facing down an even more cutthroat band of mercenaries who’ll kill anyone they consider a threat, Cam and Vicky try to negotiate a course between the two and figure out who’s actually paying the mercenaries and why the Corporate Council is really interested in a backwoods rhenium mine.
Because nothing on Portent is as it seems…and their allies might be just as ready to kill them as their enemies.
Book 7 in the Amazon Bestselling Drop Trooper series by Rick Partlow is here. It's Military Sci-Fi the way it's supposed to be!
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2021
479 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Rick Partlow
207 books372 followersRick Partlow is that rarest of species, a native Floridian. Born in Tampa, he attended Florida Southern College and graduated with a degree in History and a commission in the US Army as an Infantry officer.
His lifelong love of science fiction began with Have Space Suit---Will Travel and the other Heinlein juveniles and traveled through Clifford Simak, Asimov, Clarke and on to William Gibson, Walter Jon Williams and Peter F Hamilton. And somewhere, submerged in the worlds of others, Rick began to create his own worlds.
He has written over 70 books in over a dozen different series, and his short stories have been included in many different anthologies.
He currently lives in norther Wyoming with his wife and their dog. Besides writing and reading science fiction and fantasy, he enjoys outdoor photography, hiking and camping.
His lifelong love of science fiction began with Have Space Suit---Will Travel and the other Heinlein juveniles and traveled through Clifford Simak, Asimov, Clarke and on to William Gibson, Walter Jon Williams and Peter F Hamilton. And somewhere, submerged in the worlds of others, Rick began to create his own worlds.
He has written over 70 books in over a dozen different series, and his short stories have been included in many different anthologies.
He currently lives in norther Wyoming with his wife and their dog. Besides writing and reading science fiction and fantasy, he enjoys outdoor photography, hiking and camping.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 18, 2024
“All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much”-George Harrison
That quote is the the generalization I got after reading Shock Action, it was way too much. It’s sad, because I was starting to get into the storyline again but now my brain just hurts. While the book is not horrible and I still plan to continue the series, I just have a few things that I want to get off my chest before I move on with my life.
Cons:
It’s All Over The Place!
Look I’m all in for a good roller coaster here and there but Jesus man this book needed to slow the hell down. You start with Cam and his tired wife Vicky off to another adventure with the CSF. While playing the double agent card for the commonwealth military he has to find his way doing both jobs. Ok, I was into that. But then the author throws in possibly militia military gangs, a prior marine recon mayor hardass, hardass townsmen, CSF corruption, another spy, the precursors tech, black market warship raw materials sold to the renegade tahni, need I say more. The thing is I have no promblems for good banger of information in the plot. The promblem is in this book the author lets the reader ride on nothing. It made it a guessing game on what all these things are and it honestly killed the book for me in reagrds there was way to much to much going on and unfocused ass could not follow along as smooth as I wanted to.
Predictable:
I think in every single plot twist or big reveal I 100% saw it coming. It got to the point where it really got boring in some scenes due to the author trying to build it up for the “big reveal”… I’m not saying the whole storyline was bad but it really didt help where I could have made the whole storyboard half way through the book.
Really Hard To Follow:
Just like there was too much going on in the entirety of the story plot so too was the battle scenes. For me these moments are my meat and potatoes in most space opera books and it was really aggravating to not enjoy these moments. To be honest they were just out of focus and my brain rambled in keeping pace with Cam’s action scenes.
Pros
Great Character Development
Particularly Cams character build up really hit a climax in Shock Action. You really get a sense of vulnerability in him and the cross roads he is facing in both his PTSD and survivors guilt after the war. Your heart also goes out to his wife Vicky who stands by him but also set realistic guidelines that the constant death roller coaster Cam lives is damaging her mental health as well. All of which was well written and it was welcoming to overworked storyline.
Spell Writing
As much I had detested the majority of the book the author has a talent in bring the reader in his universe. It’s really unique tbh and his creativity is very evident.
All and all I’m still a fan of this series just not so much of this book. I will continue it but I think I need a break for now.
That quote is the the generalization I got after reading Shock Action, it was way too much. It’s sad, because I was starting to get into the storyline again but now my brain just hurts. While the book is not horrible and I still plan to continue the series, I just have a few things that I want to get off my chest before I move on with my life.
Cons:
It’s All Over The Place!
Look I’m all in for a good roller coaster here and there but Jesus man this book needed to slow the hell down. You start with Cam and his tired wife Vicky off to another adventure with the CSF. While playing the double agent card for the commonwealth military he has to find his way doing both jobs. Ok, I was into that. But then the author throws in possibly militia military gangs, a prior marine recon mayor hardass, hardass townsmen, CSF corruption, another spy, the precursors tech, black market warship raw materials sold to the renegade tahni, need I say more. The thing is I have no promblems for good banger of information in the plot. The promblem is in this book the author lets the reader ride on nothing. It made it a guessing game on what all these things are and it honestly killed the book for me in reagrds there was way to much to much going on and unfocused ass could not follow along as smooth as I wanted to.
Predictable:
I think in every single plot twist or big reveal I 100% saw it coming. It got to the point where it really got boring in some scenes due to the author trying to build it up for the “big reveal”… I’m not saying the whole storyline was bad but it really didt help where I could have made the whole storyboard half way through the book.
Really Hard To Follow:
Just like there was too much going on in the entirety of the story plot so too was the battle scenes. For me these moments are my meat and potatoes in most space opera books and it was really aggravating to not enjoy these moments. To be honest they were just out of focus and my brain rambled in keeping pace with Cam’s action scenes.
Pros
Great Character Development
Particularly Cams character build up really hit a climax in Shock Action. You really get a sense of vulnerability in him and the cross roads he is facing in both his PTSD and survivors guilt after the war. Your heart also goes out to his wife Vicky who stands by him but also set realistic guidelines that the constant death roller coaster Cam lives is damaging her mental health as well. All of which was well written and it was welcoming to overworked storyline.
Spell Writing
As much I had detested the majority of the book the author has a talent in bring the reader in his universe. It’s really unique tbh and his creativity is very evident.
All and all I’m still a fan of this series just not so much of this book. I will continue it but I think I need a break for now.
June 19, 2021
Having difficulty finishing
I started this series for SPACE MARINES! And the first books in the series were great for that but then the first extraterrestrial war ended. Since then, I tolerated the first couple of books with Alvarez being lost in purpose and then a spy but now it is just becoming too much. I liked the original premise and the main protagonist but I am struggling to finish this book and I rarely ever leave a series. It is sad. The series originally started strong.
I started this series for SPACE MARINES! And the first books in the series were great for that but then the first extraterrestrial war ended. Since then, I tolerated the first couple of books with Alvarez being lost in purpose and then a spy but now it is just becoming too much. I liked the original premise and the main protagonist but I am struggling to finish this book and I rarely ever leave a series. It is sad. The series originally started strong.
March 23, 2022
It's Complicated
Being undercover seems to take Cam and Vicky from frying pan to fire as they hunt their elusive quarry and as things seem to be getting worse and the level of enemies they face get bigger the action and excitement matches it. Some great action storytelling and as we come closer to the end so does the anticipation.
Being undercover seems to take Cam and Vicky from frying pan to fire as they hunt their elusive quarry and as things seem to be getting worse and the level of enemies they face get bigger the action and excitement matches it. Some great action storytelling and as we come closer to the end so does the anticipation.
July 14, 2021
Cameron Alvarez and Vicky Sandoval were never going to get far from their military roots. Although they did "get out" and got married, their life on Canaan as farmers were short and very eventful. When a Tahni rogue General Zan-Thint chose their planet to setup a base, they got right back into the fight pretty quickly. That resulted in a few friends getting killed and the General got away, but that didn't stop the fighting. Cameron and Vicky were now deeply involved in what appeared to be a resurrection of the dreaded Tahni. Still, they currently had no good leads on where the Tahni General might have gone.
So, with nothing else to do, they decided to join forces again with Wade Cunningham as part of the Corporate Security Forces (CSF). Yeah, that's a group they once wanted no part of because this group was responsible for mistreating a lot of their friends just because the Corporate Council wanted it done. But, they had also been asked by Colonel Hachette to get inside the CSF and find out what they were doing and if it tied-in in anyway with this Tahni General Zan-Thint. Neither Cam nor Vicky had a clue as to what the CSF would do with them, but they did have a new assignment and were just about ready to find out what it entailed.
The Corporate Council attempted to control all business assets with in the Commonwealth and independent mining operations weren't something they would tolerate. Yet, here was a independent mining facility on the colony Portent carving out huge amounts of rhenium that was going to someone. The Corporate Council wanted that mine brought back into the Corporate fold or to cease functioning, immediately. Two Corporate Council lackeys had tagged Cam and Vicky with get the mission done. They also gave them a squad of former Marines. Most of these people had gotten out of the military the wrong way, i.e., dishonorable discharges or otherwise. They still had skills so the CSF was willing to pay their salaries as long as they did their jobs. With two former Drop Troop Lieutenants available, the squad now had some leadership. One guy in particular, Staff Sergeant Martz, was a real jerk and he proves it many times over during this story. I'm some what surprised that Lt. Alvarez allowed his attitude to continue throughout the mission. There were nine others in the squad which you'll read about with most actually knowing what they were doing although several had no clue. That's what Cameron and Vicky had to work with. They did have a ship, the Yantar with a surprisingly very competent pilot named Kyler Dunstan.
Off they go to figure out how to do this job and get back so they could continue to track down General Zan-Thint. But, as you'll read, this job might actually lead them to something just as important as the General himself. Cam and Vicky prefer not to go around killing everyone they meet nowadays since they aren't supposed to be in the military. Still, they have some hotheads with in the squad that think the solution to everything is more bullets! Unfortunately, that might not work in this case since the mining company has hired its own mercenary force which appears to be quite capable. Both Cam and Vicky get themselves in some very tight situations and for Cameron, it's doubly bad because he worries so much about Vicky getting killed. He does have some strong feelings about sacrificing himself to save Vicky no matter what, but she doesn't agree and wonders why he feels that leaving her a live after his death would be something she would want. They need to have a serious talk about continuing in this role they have found for themselves, but nothing gets solved in this book.
It looks like things continue in book 8, "Release Point", which won't be available until around 14 Sep 2021. I'll be adding it to my reading list.
So, with nothing else to do, they decided to join forces again with Wade Cunningham as part of the Corporate Security Forces (CSF). Yeah, that's a group they once wanted no part of because this group was responsible for mistreating a lot of their friends just because the Corporate Council wanted it done. But, they had also been asked by Colonel Hachette to get inside the CSF and find out what they were doing and if it tied-in in anyway with this Tahni General Zan-Thint. Neither Cam nor Vicky had a clue as to what the CSF would do with them, but they did have a new assignment and were just about ready to find out what it entailed.
The Corporate Council attempted to control all business assets with in the Commonwealth and independent mining operations weren't something they would tolerate. Yet, here was a independent mining facility on the colony Portent carving out huge amounts of rhenium that was going to someone. The Corporate Council wanted that mine brought back into the Corporate fold or to cease functioning, immediately. Two Corporate Council lackeys had tagged Cam and Vicky with get the mission done. They also gave them a squad of former Marines. Most of these people had gotten out of the military the wrong way, i.e., dishonorable discharges or otherwise. They still had skills so the CSF was willing to pay their salaries as long as they did their jobs. With two former Drop Troop Lieutenants available, the squad now had some leadership. One guy in particular, Staff Sergeant Martz, was a real jerk and he proves it many times over during this story. I'm some what surprised that Lt. Alvarez allowed his attitude to continue throughout the mission. There were nine others in the squad which you'll read about with most actually knowing what they were doing although several had no clue. That's what Cameron and Vicky had to work with. They did have a ship, the Yantar with a surprisingly very competent pilot named Kyler Dunstan.
Off they go to figure out how to do this job and get back so they could continue to track down General Zan-Thint. But, as you'll read, this job might actually lead them to something just as important as the General himself. Cam and Vicky prefer not to go around killing everyone they meet nowadays since they aren't supposed to be in the military. Still, they have some hotheads with in the squad that think the solution to everything is more bullets! Unfortunately, that might not work in this case since the mining company has hired its own mercenary force which appears to be quite capable. Both Cam and Vicky get themselves in some very tight situations and for Cameron, it's doubly bad because he worries so much about Vicky getting killed. He does have some strong feelings about sacrificing himself to save Vicky no matter what, but she doesn't agree and wonders why he feels that leaving her a live after his death would be something she would want. They need to have a serious talk about continuing in this role they have found for themselves, but nothing gets solved in this book.
It looks like things continue in book 8, "Release Point", which won't be available until around 14 Sep 2021. I'll be adding it to my reading list.
June 19, 2021
Another great action packed story, BUT
Shock Action has all the great action, excitement, and color you find in the rest of the Drop Trooper series but it has something that the rest didn't - an abundance of typos, dropped words and other small errors that are missed by spellchecker but usually cleaned up in the proof reading and editing process. It happens just enough to make the reader stumble and break the spell woven by an otherwise engaging and entertaining work.
Aside from the sloppy and rushed editing, this is an EXCELLENT story with complex and interesting characters, exciting action sequences, and unexpected plot twists. A perfect blend of space opera elements, classic military Sci-fi, and spy thriller rolled into one that would have easily made my 5-star list if not for the lack of editing.
Shock Action has all the great action, excitement, and color you find in the rest of the Drop Trooper series but it has something that the rest didn't - an abundance of typos, dropped words and other small errors that are missed by spellchecker but usually cleaned up in the proof reading and editing process. It happens just enough to make the reader stumble and break the spell woven by an otherwise engaging and entertaining work.
Aside from the sloppy and rushed editing, this is an EXCELLENT story with complex and interesting characters, exciting action sequences, and unexpected plot twists. A perfect blend of space opera elements, classic military Sci-fi, and spy thriller rolled into one that would have easily made my 5-star list if not for the lack of editing.
July 7, 2021
Good read
Another exciting book full of surprises and action. I really enjoy the realistic military mentality that permeates the action. Pre-planning, staging, execution, and the proverbial “on the fly changes” after the first contact with the enemy! And don’t forget the humanity Rick fleshes out his characters with; self doubt, quilt, morality, exhaustion, to name a few. You don’t get bored reading Rick’s books!
Another exciting book full of surprises and action. I really enjoy the realistic military mentality that permeates the action. Pre-planning, staging, execution, and the proverbial “on the fly changes” after the first contact with the enemy! And don’t forget the humanity Rick fleshes out his characters with; self doubt, quilt, morality, exhaustion, to name a few. You don’t get bored reading Rick’s books!
March 12, 2023
Postwar, but still plenty of action
Cam & Vicky are still working on fighting the good fight but for now Zan-Thrint is nowhere that they can find. In the meantime they are working on getting intelligence in unexpected ways.
However, Cam is still a Marine at heart and has a way of finding battle when it doesn’t find him first!
Cam & Vicky are still working on fighting the good fight but for now Zan-Thrint is nowhere that they can find. In the meantime they are working on getting intelligence in unexpected ways.
However, Cam is still a Marine at heart and has a way of finding battle when it doesn’t find him first!
June 23, 2024
Very good
I keep expecting this series to feel forced. After all, the war is over so how can a marine keep being relevant? I continue to be surprised at the originality and excellent execution of these books.
They’re certainly not forced. Highly recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I keep expecting this series to feel forced. After all, the war is over so how can a marine keep being relevant? I continue to be surprised at the originality and excellent execution of these books.
They’re certainly not forced. Highly recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who enjoys this genre.
June 26, 2021
Another good entry
I like these books a lot. If you made it this far in the series you’re probably a fan and won’t be disappointed. I think we are at a flex point in the series and after the next book, it will move in a different direction.
I like these books a lot. If you made it this far in the series you’re probably a fan and won’t be disappointed. I think we are at a flex point in the series and after the next book, it will move in a different direction.
July 21, 2021
Feeling the heat Van-Thint?
The galaxy is a big place,Van-Thint but not big enough to hide you slippery cockroach!! Your day is coming and I plan on being there with a front row seat & a smile on my face!!
The galaxy is a big place,Van-Thint but not big enough to hide you slippery cockroach!! Your day is coming and I plan on being there with a front row seat & a smile on my face!!
December 2, 2021
Hammies and nco's.
After the first 4 books I thought the author was an ex NCO, now I know he served but as an officer. He must have had a VERY good 1st sergeant. Also, hammies don't get torn by twisting, the knee ligaments go. Read the book, you'll see.
After the first 4 books I thought the author was an ex NCO, now I know he served but as an officer. He must have had a VERY good 1st sergeant. Also, hammies don't get torn by twisting, the knee ligaments go. Read the book, you'll see.
December 30, 2021
Back in the military, but undercover in a private space force, Cam and Vicky go to a mining planet in order to find out who is buying up all of a rare mineral. Who is the secret buyer and what does it mean to the continuing war effort.
Great series, give it a go!
Great series, give it a go!
May 7, 2023
The story seemed partially unresolved in order to set up the next book. It's also becoming a bit of a concern how many times a last-minute rescue comes from off-stage. however, I feel loyalty to the characters and therefore intend to continue for at least one more book.
October 21, 2023
Excellent
Good piece of writing. I feel that Cam is more viewable as a character in the storyline. He and Vicky make a good match. "This is a plan only a Marine could come up with" made me laugh. Thanks.
Good piece of writing. I feel that Cam is more viewable as a character in the storyline. He and Vicky make a good match. "This is a plan only a Marine could come up with" made me laugh. Thanks.
June 19, 2021
4.0
Not my favorite, but that may be due to so much self-doubt expressed by the MMC. I will say that it was very well written, but somewhat a downer. Hurry up next book!
Not my favorite, but that may be due to so much self-doubt expressed by the MMC. I will say that it was very well written, but somewhat a downer. Hurry up next book!
June 26, 2021
Another great storyline
Well that's another great storyline read totally enjoyed this storyline and looking forward to the next episode Release Point. Well worth 5 stars
Well that's another great storyline read totally enjoyed this storyline and looking forward to the next episode Release Point. Well worth 5 stars
June 28, 2021
Enjoyable read
A fun read that progressed the overall story nicely. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
A fun read that progressed the overall story nicely. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
August 22, 2021
action packed
As usual Partow provides the reader with page after page of fighting, chasing and other turmoil, but still wasted time and print on Cam's physchologal problems.
As usual Partow provides the reader with page after page of fighting, chasing and other turmoil, but still wasted time and print on Cam's physchologal problems.
December 8, 2021
Another great book... and the story is evolving which is good!
There's one more, unwritten book in this series I think, and I'll buy it for sure as soon as it comes out.
There's one more, unwritten book in this series I think, and I'll buy it for sure as soon as it comes out.
January 2, 2022
Good story
A solid story,with the great cast characters that show the human side of them. I plan to read the next book in the series.
A solid story,with the great cast characters that show the human side of them. I plan to read the next book in the series.
December 28, 2022
Constant action
This book was hard to put down. The action was constant and it flowed from one chapter to the next. Can't wait to read the next book.
This book was hard to put down. The action was constant and it flowed from one chapter to the next. Can't wait to read the next book.
February 22, 2024
A good story in this ongoing series. Action packed, with some tragic deaths.
January 5, 2025
Read this series
Great continue of series
Must read see what happens as the saga continues
Great imagination and space adventures always something new
Great continue of series
Must read see what happens as the saga continues
Great imagination and space adventures always something new
January 16, 2022
Excellent Book
Plenty of action and surprises for anyone reading this book. Makes me regret not reading it sooner. Overall a really enjoyable book.
Plenty of action and surprises for anyone reading this book. Makes me regret not reading it sooner. Overall a really enjoyable book.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews